Guruvayur Dorai

Guruvayoor Dorai is one of India's senior exponents of the mridangam. He has been on the concert platform for over sixty years, had his initial training under Palakkad Subba Iyer and E.P. Narayana Pisharody. Later, for almost nine years, he underwent resident training with the legendary Palani Subramania Pillai. This helped him understand the Pudukottai style of mridangam. He gave his debut performance at age eight accompanying a stalwart of the time, Chembai Shri. Vaidhyanatha Bhagavathar. Chembai was a family friend and a music teacher to Sri. Dorai's sister, the reputed Guruvayoor Ponnammal. Guruvayoor Dorai has traveled extensively around the world and is a recipient of several awards.